A Stockton pharmacy has had to employ an ex-Royal Marine as security due to the amount of hassle the store is getting from yobs.

Pharmacy World in Roseworth has been forced to start paying over £1,000 a month to a private security firm because the store and the staff are continually targeted by the youths that congregate outside.

Richard Lyness, the manager of the store, also had his family threatened by one of the yobs who then went on to indecently expose himself.

He said: “I was threatened by one of the lads who said that he was going to smash my car up while my wife and young son were in the car. He then pulled his trousers down and exposed himself.

“A lot of people in the area are scared to come forward in case they get targeted.

A bouncer now works at Pharmacy World at Redhill shops, Roseworth (Image: Evening Gazette)

“I’ve had people coming into the shop telling me they’ve been throwing fireworks at them, even including a woman with a child who was at a cash machine.

“The police are arresting them and as soon as they get released they come back and do it all again.

“We have elderly patients who come in here and a lot of people with health issues, I can see where this behaviour is going.”

Richard has now created the Campaign Against Anti-Social Behaviour in the UK petition after feeling the area is being destroyed.

It is hoped the petition can gain enough signatures for it to be handed to the government.

The level of harassment that Richard and Pharmacy World are receiving has caused Richard to hire a security guard.